In 2023, Impact Hub Syunik successfully implemented the “Mapping of Syunik Region’s Existing and Required Rapid Response Resources for Persons Affected by Disasters” project through the period of August to September 2023. This project is funded by USAID’s “Protection, Inclusion and Empowerment” Activity implemented by Democracy International.
For about a month Impact Hub Syunik has been working together with the relevant stakeholders of the region to tackle the project-proposed issues. As a result of various meetings and discussions, the project implementing team has succeeded in identifying, raising, and analyzing the future actions and directions to be taken during the next phases of the project. The representatives of local government have spoken about social protection, emergency management, the preparedness degree in case of new challenges, as well as about their experience already gained.
In the course of the project the existing and required resources of the Syunik region, as well as strong and weak sides were studied, with a special reference to the latest challenges here. Apart from these first-priority issues, other possible non-military disasters were studied and are presented below. Their possibility, frequency of occurrence in the region, and the level of preparedness of infrastructures were taken into consideration.
The methodology of the mapping has primary and secondary data collection directions. The methods implemented at the data collection level are listed below.
- Meetings and interviews with Syunik local government representatives, including the representatives of the Syunik Governor’s office,
- Collecting data through a questionnaire and/or meetings with the relevant stakeholders and active role players in the region; international institutions with physical presence in the region, and local non-profit institutions.
- Collecting data through for-profit organizations, mainly hotels and active citizens
- Survey with reporters of mass media branches operating in the region; CivilNet, Azatutyun Radio Station, Aravot)
- Identifying and studying previous research, reports, and public data by different institutions, including state bodies
- Circulating the project findings report to the Syunik stakeholders
Impact Hub Syunik conducted a comprehensive mapping of the region’s resources for disaster response, facilitating informed recommendations for community resilience. After a multi-stage mapping of existing resources, as well as the needs and gaps of the Syunik region a thorough report summarized the main results and findings of the mapping.
It also introduces a number of recommendations developed based on the project findings for later consideration by the DI. The report specifically indicates the resources in need of improvement, strengthening, and concentration in possible innovative ways.